Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a chassis, a fan module located in the chassis, a first gasket, a second gasket, a fastener, and a bracket. The fan module includes a front panel and a rear panel. A first gasket extends through the front panel. The second gasket extends through the rear panel. The fastener is pivotable about the first gasket and the second gasket. The bracket is mounted to the chassis and is fixed to the fastener

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to a fan assembly, especially to a fan assembly within a server enclosure for dissipating heat from electronic components.

2. Description of Related Art

In the computer industry, a computer system, such as a server, is often configured to facilitate reliable and continuous operation. Computer systems typically have multiple power supplies and fans, and each device is usually screwed to the server chassis. If one of these components fails or malfunctions, the component may affect continuing operation of the system until a service technician can replace the failed component. Heat dissipation devices, such as fans, are provided in conventional computers to remove heat from heat generation components. However, when the fan is working, vibration generated from the fan will affect other electronic elements. There is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a fan module in one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a fastener and two gaskets of the fan module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the fan module, four gaskets and two fasteners of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but the two fasteners are rotated to another position.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a fan assembly 10. The fan assembly 10 can be used in an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, or a portable computer for example, to dissipate heat from a plurality of heat generating elements. The fan assembly 10 includes a chassis 12, a bracket 14, a fan module 30, two fasteners 50, four gaskets 60, and four strip cushions 70.

The chassis 12 includes a bottom wall 122. The bracket 14 includes a top wall 142 and two sidewalls 144. The two sidewalls 144 are substantially perpendicular to the top wall 142.

The fan module 30 includes a front panel 31, a rear panel 33, and a plurality of blades 36. A first through hole 311 is defined in the front panel 31, and second through hole 331 is defined in the rear panel 33.

Each of the four strip cushions 70 may include foam to absorb vibration from the fan module 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of one of the two fasteners 50 and two of the four gaskets 60. Each fastener 50 comprises a connecting piece 51, a mounting piece 55, and two pivot pieces 53. The two pivot pieces 53 are located on opposite ends of the connecting piece 51. The two pivot pieces 53 are substantially perpendicular to the connecting pieces 51. A cutout 533 is defined in each of the two pivot pieces 53 to engage with the gasket 60. The cutout 533 is substantially C-shaped. An inlet direction of the cutout is substantially perpendicular to the mounting piece 55. The mounting piece 55 is substantially perpendicular to the connecting piece 51. The mounting piece 55 is substantially perpendicular to the two pivot pieces 53. A mounting hole 551 is defined in the mounting piece 55.

Each gasket 60 includes a head 63, a shoulder 65, a holding portion 67 and an insert portion 61. The head 63 is located on an end of the insert portion 61. A diameter of the head 63 is larger than a diameter of each of the first through hole 311 and the second through hole 331. A diameter of the shoulder 65 is also larger than a diameter of each of the first through hole 311 and the second through hole 331. The holding portion 67 can be engaged with the first through hole 311 and the second through hole 331. The gasket 60 may include rubber.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate two assembled views of the fan module 30, two gaskets 60 and one fastener 50. A first gaskets is inserted into the first through hole 311 from an outer side of the front panel 31. A second gasket is inserted into the second through hole 331 from an outer side of the rear panel 33. The two gaskets 60 are inserted toward each other along different directions. The two gaskets 60 are engaged with the front panel 31 and the rear panel 33. One of fasteners 50 is mounted to the two gaskets 60 and is pivotable about the two gaskets 60. Each cutout 533 of the fastener 50 is engaged with each of the two gaskets 60. When the fastener 50 is mounted to the two gaskets 60, each cutout 533 is located between each shoulder 65 and head 63 of each gasket 60. The two pivot pieces 53 are located on two outer sides of the front panel 31 and the rear panel 33. The fastener 50 is rotated about the two gaskets 60 and the mounting piece 55, which is horizontally placed.

FIG. 5 illustrates an assembly view of the fan assembly 10. The assembled fan module 30 is moved into the bracket 14. The mounting piece 55 is mounted to the top wall 142 through two bolts 80. The four cushions 70 are located on two lateral sides of the fan module 30, between the two sidewalls 144 of the bracket 14 and the fan module 30. The bracket 14 is then mounted to the chassis 12. The fan assembly 10 is assembled.

The gaskets 60 and the cushions 70 can isolate the fan module 30 and the bracket 14, so that vibration transferred from the fan module 30 is reduced.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan assembly, comprising: a chassis, a fan module located in the chassis, the fan module comprising a front panel and a rear panel; a first gasket extending through the front panel; a second gasket extending through the rear panel; a fastener pivotable about the first gasket and the second gasket; and a bracket mounted to the chassis and fixed to the fastener.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein a first through hole is defined in the front panel, and a second through hole is defined in the rear panel, the first gasket extends through the first through hole and is secured to the front panel, and the second gasket extends through the second through hole and is secured to the rear panel.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are resilient.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the first gasket and the second gasket comprises a head, and a diameter of the head is larger than a diameter of each of the first through hole and the second through hole.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the first gasket and the second gasket comprises a shoulder, the shoulder is located between the head and an insert portion, a diameter of the shoulder is larger than the diameter of each of the first through hole and the second through hole, and a portion of each of the first gasket and the second gasket to receive the fastener is located between the head and the shoulder.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises two pivot pieces, and a cutout is defined in each of the two pivot pieces to engage with the first gasket and the second gasket.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the cutout is substantially C-shaped.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the fastener further comprises a connecting piece and a mounting piece, the bracket is fixed to the mounting piece, the two pivot pieces are located on opposite ends of the connecting piece, the two pivot pieces are substantially perpendicular to the connecting piece, the mounting piece is substantially perpendicular to the connecting piece, and the mounting piece is substantially perpendicular to the two pivot pieces.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein an inlet direction of each of the cutouts is substantially perpendicular to the mounting piece.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of strip cushions, wherein the fan module is covered by the bracket and the plurality of strip cushions is located between the fan module and the bracket.
 11. A fan assembly, comprising: a chassis, a fan module located in the chassis, the fan module comprising a front panel and a rear panel; a first gasket extending through the front panel along a first direction; a second gasket extending through the rear panel along a second direction; a fastener, mounted to the first gasket and the second gasket; and a bracket mounted to the chassis and fixed to the fastener.
 12. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein a first through hole is defined in the front panel, and a second through hole is defined in the rear panel, the first gasket extends through the first through hole and is secured to the front panel, and the second gasket extends through the second through hole and is secured to the rear panel.
 13. The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are resilient.
 14. The fan assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the first gasket and the second gasket comprises a head, and a diameter of the head is larger than a diameter of each of the first through hole and the second through hole.
 15. The fan assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the first gasket and the second gasket comprises a shoulder, the shoulder is located between the head and an insert portion, a diameter of the shoulder is larger than the diameter of each of the first through hole and the second through hole, and a portion of each of the first gasket and the second gasket to receive the fastener is located between the head and the shoulder.
 16. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises two pivot pieces, and a cutout is defined in each of the two pivot pieces to engage with the first gasket and the second gasket.
 17. The fan assembly of claim 16, wherein the cutout is substantially C-shaped.
 18. The fan assembly of claim 16, wherein the fastener further comprises a connecting piece and a mounting piece, the bracket is fixed to the mounting piece, the two pivot pieces are located on opposite ends of the connecting piece, the two pivot pieces are substantially perpendicular to the connecting piece, the mounting piece is substantially perpendicular to the connecting piece, and the mounting piece is substantially perpendicular to the two pivot pieces.
 19. The fan assembly of claim 18, wherein an inlet direction of each of the cutouts is substantially perpendicular to the mounting piece.
 20. The fan assembly of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of strip cushions, wherein the fan module is covered by the bracket and the plurality of strip cushions is located between the fan module and the bracket. 